Bethel battles back, beats Kecoughtan 26-25

Dominique McBride of Bethel clinches the Bruins' 26-25 win over Kecoughtan by snatching up a punt that was muffed by Aaron Matthews of Kecoughtan.

Dominique McBride of Bethel clinches the Bruins' 26-25 win over Kecoughtan by snatching up a punt that was muffed by Aaron Matthews of Kecoughtan. (Rob Ostermaier, Daily Press)

Dave Johnson, djohnson@dailypress.com | 247-4649

It was a comeback that almost defied logic. Down 12 points midway through the third quarter, Bethel rallied for the win despite generating one first down and 47 yards of offense in the entire second half.

But who needs offense when you have the Dominiques. That would be Dominique McBride and Dominique Cowell, whose special teams and defensive touchdowns lifted the Bruins to a 26-25 win over Kecoughtan on Friday night at Darling Stadium.

McBride's 97-yard kickoff return came right after the Warriors had taken a 25-13 lead on Aaron Matthews' touchdown with 6:38 left in the third. Sixty-four seconds later, Cowell scooped up a fumble by Kecoughtan quarterback Marcus Hofler and went 44 yards to put the Bruins ahead after Britt Baker's point-after.

And to seal it, McBride recovered a fumble by Matthews — his second and the team's fourth — on a punt return with 1:39 remaining.

"We couldn't quit," said Cowell, who played as a sophomore but sat out last year to concentrate on basketball. "We had to keep going. We showed a lot of character."

"When (the Warriors) went up by two touchdowns, would we fold?" he said. "That was the question because we have so many young players. We only have three people on both sides of the ball who played a lot last year.

"But what we preach is, finish what you start. That's what they did."

The loss was a bitter pill for Kecoughtan, which dominated every statistical category from first downs (14-7) to total yards (364-174). In addition to four fumbles — one of which was returned for a touchdown, another of which set up a touchdown — the Warriors also botched three PATs.

"We make those and it's 28-26," Kecoughtan coach Scott Woodlief said. "A totally different football game. I don't know what it was. I don't know if the ball didn't get back there fast enough or what. But we'll get it fixed."

McBride, who barely played last year on a veteran team, had by far his biggest impact. Aside from the kickoff return and fumble recovery, he also forced a fumble.

"I didn't play much last year, so this is a big year for me," said McBride, a junior who usually plays in the secondary but was at outside linebacker Friday night. "I call this my scholarship year."

Though Bethel went ahead 26-25 with 5:20 remaining in the third quarter, its offense wasn't able to put the game away. Kecoughtan would have taken over near midfield on its final possession, but Matthews (130 yards on 13 carries) muffed the punt while reaching for it with his hands.

"I was actually ready to hit him and I saw he dropped it," McBride said. "I knew I had to get it because there was no telling what they'd do."

Though some obvious weakness were exposed, Nelson wanted to savor this win.

"I told them whether it comes by one point or two, I'll always take a victory," he said.